From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State over his visit to the leader of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.
Governor Adeleke, on Tuesday, visited the national leader of the APC over the local government crisis in the state, where he reportedly had a two-hour closed-door meeting with the pioneer chairman of the APC at his Ibadan residence.
A statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, explained that the visit was part of a statewide briefing of stakeholders to update key leaders on the recent controversies over local government leadership in the state.
Noting that the governor was on the journey with his Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Speaker of the State Assembly, Commissioners for Justice and Information, and other aides, the statement disclosed that Adeleke will have a special briefing session with the State Council of Traditional Rulers on Thursday.
Adeleke conveyed the support of the Osun State Government for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, informing the elder statesman that the state government enjoys a warm partnership with the Federal Government across all sectors.
“Our father, we are here to pay homage to you as my predecessor and as an elder statesman. I am also going round to brief our leaders on recent developments in our dear state.
“Your relationship with the Adeleke’s family dated back to my late Dad. I choose to start the consultation with this visit,” Adeleke said.
Chief Akande said he had listened to the presentations from the delegation, even as he urged continued upholding of peace and the rule of law for the collective benefit of the state.
But the APC, in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, berated Adeleke for running to Akande to beg for a soft landing on the prevailing political logjam concerning the reinstated council chairmen and councillors in the state, saying that the political pilgrimage to the elder statesman cannot save him.
The APC described Akande as a democrat, saying no amount of under-the-table arrangements would make the former governor of the state work against the interests of his party.
“We want to believe that there are knowledgeable political lieutenants of Governor Adeleke who should guide him aright that the proper place for him to go if at all he has any case for redress after the Akure verdict of 10th of February, 2025, is the Supreme Court.
“It does not add up that a governor whose directive resulted into the killings of our members and others across the state could think he could fool the people again through the back door.
“Our golden advice to the troubled Governor Adeleke is that he should partner with the reinstated council chairmen and Councillors to ensure dividend of democracy cut across the length and breadth of the state,” the APC said.
